Slow-cooked Barbecued Chicken

Begin with a whole chicken, cut-up, and seasoned with salt, paprika, and garlic powder. A little cola will make your sauce Southern from the outset, and ketchup will keep it simple. Five to seven hours later, you will be waiting for the mouthwatering, sticky-sweet chicken to come out of the slow cooker so the juicy, falling-off-the-bone meat will be ready to go. Shred it, and serve it over some Sweet Potato Cornbread. Top it all with pickled peppers and onions, and some simple slaw. You just can’t get much more Southern—and you definitely can’t get any more delicious—than this.

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Slow-Cooker Suppers

These satisfying suppers are perfect for your busy schedule. Just toss in the ingredients and let your slow cooker do all the work.

Remember when Crock Pot recipes were all soups and stews? Our slow cookers also came in handy for prepping and serving those little cocktail wieners doused with grape jelly, a staple of the Southern party menu back in the day. (And let’s admit it—we still love ’em.) Crock Pots are so much more versatile now. You can slow-cook everything from classic comfort food (think meatloaf and macaroni and cheese) to regional specialties: Turkey Breast and Herb-Cornbread Stuffing, Brisket Tacos with Summer Salsa, Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo, Spicy-Sweet Ribs and Beans, and King Ranch Chicken, to name a few. There’s nothing better than easily prepped, fix-it-and-forget-it Crock Pot recipes to make weeknight suppers—and even weekend entertaining—a snap. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or just making dinner, check out our extensive collection of delicious recipes. Your Crock Pot menu can be virtually limitless—and effortless.